Chapter 152: with translation of chapter title

Xiao Jieyun's face darkened instantly, and the pressure around him lessened a bit.

Tuan Tuan noticed immediately, looked up at him with her small face: "Imperial Uncle, is this paper making you unhappy, right?"

Xiao Jieyun nodded slowly.

Tuan Tuan grabbed the note, turned it over and over, looking curiously: "What does it say?"

Xiao Jieyun remained silent for a moment.

How could such filthy palace intrigues be explained to a child who knows nothing of the world? How could she understand?

"These words tell me, I have trusted the wrong person."

"Trust the wrong person?" Tuan Tuan became even more puzzled: "What does it mean to trust the wrong person?"

Xiao Jieyun shook his head, saying nothing.

Tuan Tuan glanced at him, then turned her gaze to Eunuch Cheng standing nearby, who wished he could shrink into the shadows.

She persisted: "Grandpa, will you tell me, please?"

Eunuch Cheng broke out in a cold sweat: "Oh dear, my little ancestor! His Majesty hasn't mentioned it—I wouldn't dare speak up even if I had ten times the courage!"

"Hmph!" Xiao Tuanzi pouted unhappily: "If you won't tell me, I'll find out myself!"

She untied the embroidered pouch at her waist, rummaged through it, felt something, and thought: "This will do!"

Just as she was about to take it out, her little hand paused.

Oh no, that's not right!

Last time in the Imperial Aunt's palace, Dad shook his head at me, not letting me show it to others.

What should I do?

She stared at Xiao Jieyun and Eunuch Cheng, her voice soft yet fierce: "You two! Turn your heads away! No peeking!"

Eunuch Cheng was dumbfounded, instinctively looking toward the Emperor.

Xiao Jieyun was startled by her childish gesture, then smiled and went along with her, slightly turning his head aside: "All right, Imperial Uncle won't look."

Seeing that, Eunuch Cheng quickly turned his body as well.

Tuan Tuan pulled out a pine needle she had picked up not long ago in the imperial garden, placed it on the note, and muttered softly: "Hurry up and tell me what's going on!"

As her words fell, a faint light flashed, and the pine needle vanished without a trace.

Xiao Jieyun kept an eye on her movements with the corner of his vision.

When this unbelievable sight entered his view, his pupils contracted sharply—what is this?!

Shock and anger filled Tuan Tuan's little face: "It's that damned Empress Dowager again!"

Xiao Jieyun stared, torn between laughter and tears: "The damned Empress Dowager?"

Eunuch Cheng clapped a hand over his mouth: "Good heavens, Little Princess, you really dare say that! The Empress Dowager is still the Empress Dowager—she hasn't been deposed!"

"Imperial Uncle! The damned Empress Dowager is a villain, the Empress is a good person—why would you believe a villain? The Empress is clearly so kind!"

Xiao Jieyun turned his head back, looking at her small face, his heart gave a jolt.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and spoke frankly: "Tuan Tuan, do you know the Empress's surname is Murong, a distant relative of the Empress Dowager?"

Tuan Tuan didn't care about those details: "I don't know who the Empress is related to. But I know the Empress is good, and the damned Empress Dowager is bad!"

"Imperial Uncle, you should believe the good person, right?"

Xiao Jieyun was completely shaken: "Could this note be a forgery? Is someone framing the Empress?"

He pondered for a moment: "Tuan Tuan, can you find who wrote this note?"

Tuan Tuan thought for a while, then her eyes lit up!

She slipped off the Emperor's lap, clutching the note, and pattered out of the hall.

Xiao Jieyun hurriedly rose and followed quickly.

Tuan Tuan thrust the note right under the wet nose of the big wolf who was dozing, lying prone.

"Big Wolf! Sniff it! Where did this nasty thing come from? Go! Find the culprit!"

The big wolf twitched its huge nose, sniffing the note carefully a few times, letting out a low groan from its throat.

Immediately, it sprang to its feet, anxiously scraping the ground with its forepaws.

Tuan Tuan understood, slipped the note into her sleeve, nimbly climbed into the little dog cart, grabbed the reins, and exclaimed excitedly: "Giddyap! Big Wolf, let's go! Let's find that villain!"

The big wolf let out a low roar and pulled the cart forward at a dash!

Xiao Jieyun immediately ordered: "Quick! Follow them! Report as soon as you reach wherever they go! Bring the Little Princess back!"

"Yes!" Several agile figures of the palace guards shot out, sprinting after the dog cart racing along the palace road.

The big wolf would pause to sniff the ground, then lift its head and twitch its nostrils, moving in stops and starts, steadily heading in one direction.

Finally, it stopped before a palace gate ablaze with lights and splendidly decorated.

Raising its massive head, it faced the tightly shut palace gate and let out a long howl to the heavens.

"Aooo—!"

On the lintel, the three large characters "Hall of Blessing and Tranquility" were crystal clear.

The palace gate creaked open from within.

Obviously having heard the commotion outside, Consort Hui personally led the palace maids out to greet them.

Her face was full of surprise, her smile gentle, her eyes falling on Tuan Tuan in the dog cart.

"Little Princess, what brings you to play here in my palace today?"

"Come in quickly, I'll have them fetch you milk cakes and candied fruit—so sweet!"

Tuan Tuan looked at her: "Oh, it's you!"

"This isn't that consort with the messy eyes from that day, is it!"

Consort Hui's smile froze: "Me? What do you mean?"

"What is the Princess (Commandery) saying?"

She stepped forward, her voice growing softer: "Little Princess, did someone say something to you? Or did someone upset you? Come in and tell this palace; this palace will decide for you."

Several imperial guards rushed forward; the lead guard glanced at the sign of Funing Palace and said: "Princess (Commandery), His Majesty has ordered you to return to Zichen Hall immediately."

Imperial guards? Consort Hui's heart sank.

Tuan Tuan nodded, picked up the reins, gave a light shake: "Big Wolf, let's go back!"

Big Wolf pulled the cart, flexibly turning its direction, and ran toward Zichen Hall.

The guard captain bowed to Consort Hui: "Your Ladyship, I take my leave." He and his subordinates quickly followed.

Consort Hui stood where she was, full of surprise and doubt.

After hearing the guard's report, Xiao Jieyun understood completely.

He had neglected the Empress for years over the Empress Dowager's affair, only recently restoring a bit of marital affection.

Now the Empress controls the authority of the six palaces, and His Majesty often stays overnight; that must be why the ever-favored Consort Hui has developed overambitious thoughts.

He actually employed such a vicious scheme to sow discord!

He bent down and firmly held Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan wrapped her arms around his neck: "Imperial Uncle, can you not be angry?"

The Emperor gazed at her pure eyes: "Cheng Jinyan!"

"Your servant is here!"

"Go at once to Funing Palace, proclaim His Majesty's oral order: Consort Hui disrespects the Empress, causes chaos in the harem; demote her to Noble Lady, confine her to Funing Palace for half a year as punishment."

"Yes! Your servant will attend to it right away!"

"Proceed to Fengyi Palace!"

He held Tuan Tuan and strode out: "Come on! Let's go with His Majesty to have dinner with the Empress!"

"Great!" Tuan Tuan clapped her hands and cheered.

The next day, Zichen Hall.

The palace attendant reported: "Your Majesty, the Divine Child of Da Xia has already entered the capital this morning and is staying at the posthouse."